Boiler water-alarm



(No Model.)

F. R. STEVENSON.

BOILER WATER ALARM.

No. 353,513. Patented NOV. 30, 1886.

Jill/672M? mag An S.

5:5 H 5 D 0 L \fl on fimv wnnm h ID z 6 m W 4' 4, M m 3? B E a a n a m F H E D X 1 w A aw E M Minesses.

l #41 \JW- FRANCIS R. STEVENSON, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOlLER WATER-ALARM.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters P atent No. 353,513, dated November 30, 1886.

Application filed A ugnst '20, 1886. Serial No. 21 ,399. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS E. STEVENSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie,

' in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Boiler ater-Alarms; andldo hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description oflhe invention, such as will enable othcrs skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to devices for sounding an alarm when the water in ZLSiQillllbOllBI becomes too low or too high; and it consists in improvements in the construction thereof, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

My device is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, as follows: Figure 1 shows the apparatus in verticalsection. Fig. 2 is a top view, looking into the shell, the top or cover being removed. Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the puppetvalve F.

The device consists of a cast-iron body or shell, A, which is connected with the boiler U by pipes G and H, and is provided with a steam-tight cover, A and contains a floating ball and means for sounding an alarm when the float is raised too high or sunk too low.

The construction is as follows: The shell or body A is cylindrical in form,with the bottom closed, and 011 one side there is a narrow extension or channel, a, along the length of the body, and on the same side, at the top, there is a shallow rectangular extension, A. This shell is cast in one piece, and is covered by a cover, A", which is secured to it by bolts and made steam-tight. A pipe, H, connects with the interior of the. shell at the bottom, and when the device is in place on a boiler this pipe connects with the interior of the boiler below the lowest point to which the water should ever be permitted to fall. A second pipe, G, connects with theinterior ofthe shell at the top and enters the steam-space of the boiler.

B is a float of the ordinary kind, which is contained within the cylindrical part of the shell.

G is a crossbeam supported within the shell, across the cylindrical part thereof, at the top, and containing sheaves c c.

B is a chain or metallic cord, which is connected with the float and passes over the sheaves c c in the beam 0, and has suspended at its end asmall weight, b. The arrangement of parts is such that the weightbhangs within the channel or extension a above mentioned, and can pass the float undisturbed as the float rises or falls. The weight Z) is not a counterweight, but is made only sufficiently heavy to keep the chain B taut and insure its movement over the sheaves c c as the float rises.

The chain 1)" is connected with the float B by a screwbolt b on the end of which is a disk, I). By turning the screw-bolt, the distance of the disk I) from the float can be regulated.

E is a steanrescape chamber. It is something the shape of a flat bottle. it will preferably be made of brass, and will be cast in one piece. Its neck is screwthreaded and screws into an opening through the end wall of the extension A of the shell, and an alarmwhistle, E, is connected with the same opening from the outside.

A puppet-valve, F, regulates the admission of steam to the chamber E, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. This valve is kept seated by a spring, f, and the tension of the spring is regulated by a screw, f.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the internal construction of the puppet-valve F. It has a central perforatiomf, and a cap, f with a chamber, f below it, and in connection with the openingf. The object of this construction is to properly balance the valve.

D is a lever fulcrnmed at d on the under side of the chamber E, and passes under the stem of the valve F, extends under the beam 0, and embraces by slots therein at cl d the chain B below each of the sheaves c c.

It will be seen by observing Fig. 1 that if the water in the shell A becomes too low the float will sink and the weight b will be drawn up and come in contact with the lever D and lift it, and also that if the water becomes too highthe float will be raised so the disk I) will come in contact with the lever D and lift it, and also that any such lifting of the lever D will lift the valve F from its seat and permit an escape of steam into the escape-chamber E, as shown by arrows, and this escaping steam will sound the alarm-whistle E.

It will be noted that all the operative mechanism of the device is contained within the shell and does not have to operate through any packed opening in the walls of the shell,

and hence there is no danger of inoperation. The only stuffing-box used is onthe stem of the screw f, which regulates the tension of the spring on the valve F, and this stem is always operated by hand from outside of the case, and hence in no way affects the action of the operating part-s.

I am aware of the construction shown in patent to Dustin, May 8,1860, No. 28,165, and in patent to Cole, October 13, 187 i, No. 155,828, and I do not desire to be understood asclaiming as my invention anything therein shown. In the said devices the construction is such that the alarm is only sounded when the water becomes too low, there being no means for sounding the alarm when the water is too high also, as in my construction.

What I claim as new is 1. In a water-alarm for boilers, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a float, a flexible chain or cord connected with said float, which passes over sheaves and attaches to a weight, so that said weight will move counter to said float in a parallel vertical plane, a steam-escape chamber, a valve regulating admission to said chamber,and a lever for moving said valve, which is arranged with relation to said float, chain, and weight in a manner substantially as shown, whereby the said lever may be moved by the action of said parts to open said valve when the said float is unduly elevated or depressed.

2. In a water-alarm for steam-boilers, the combination, substantially as shown, of a shell or case, A, connected with the boiler by a pipe extending from the top of said case to the steamspace of the boiler, and a pipe extending from the lower part of said case to a shell or case A, connected with the boiler, as

commonly, the steam-escape chamber E, having its exit through the wall of the main case and its entrance controlled by the puppet valve F, the leverD, for moving said valve, the float B, the cross-beam G, having sheaves c c thereon, the weight b, and the chain 13, connecting said weight and float and passing through slots d d in said lever D and over said sheaves c c in said beam 0.

In testimony whereof I afflx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS R1 STEVENSON.

\Vitnesses:

RoBT. H. PORTER, J NO. K. HALLocK. 

